Knight of the Empress

by Griff Hosker

  Alan asked Edward, "Why is it significant that they do not have banners?"

  He pointed to my gonfanon. "This marks Baron Alfraed a banneret knight and tells others who he is. It identifies him. These warriors are coming hidden; in disguise. They may be peaceful but it is unlikely." Alan looked at my blue banner with the two stars, seemingly for the first time. I smiled. He was learning what it meant to be a knight. Harold, who held the gonfanon, seemed to sit a little straighter at those words.

  We could now hear them as they approached. The clearing was on a slight rise. Whoever had lived here had chosen well. I later discovered that there was a stream just ahead. I heard the splashing as the hooves of their horses crossed it. When the knights' heads appeared I wondered if we were the only conroi to send out scouts. Had they had scouts they would have seen us earlier. As it was I saw the looks exchanged between the knights which showed that they had not expected us. Their leader made a rapid decision. He yelled something and they charged at us. It was a mistake but it took away the decision I had worried about making. I lowered my helmet and my lance. I saw that the four knights also had lances but they were not riding knee to knee. Behind them were a motley mixture of men at arms and light horsemen. There were twenty, at least. As I prepared to launch our counterattack I saw the foot soldiers spreading out. I could ignore them.

  I waited until the knights were halfway across the clearing and approaching the uneven ground where the huts had stood. "Charge!"

  It was the first time in a long time since I had charged next to Wulfstan and I took comfort from his presence. Although not a natural horseman he was a born warrior. I pulled back my lance as Scout thundered ahead of the others. We had not brought our destrier and Scout was the best of the horses we had. It meant I was the one who struck first blood. I aimed for the middle of the knight with the red shield and yellow star. His lance was well aimed but it came for my head. I trusted my left arm and my shield. They took the blow although my left shoulder rocked around. My lance struck him a moment after his and the movement of my body brought the lance head around so that it struck the knight's left side. He was already slightly unbalanced and he tumbled from his horse.

  I pulled my arm back as I steadied Scout and I punched forward at the warrior who came at me with a long spear. He did not pull it back before his struck and the weak blow merely clattered off my shield whilst my lance tore into his middle and came out of his back. I released the now useless weapon and drew my sword. I was in the heart of the horsemen and I knew that I had a wedge of warriors behind. My men were well trained and we were fighting a rabble. Discipline would overcome numbers.

  I spurred Scout and he leapt towards the next man at arms. Instead of stabbing I swept my sword around my head. The man was concentrating on stabbing me. The tip of his blade touched my surcoat and the lamellar armour beneath as my blade took his head. And then I was through the horsemen. I saw two spearmen lying with arrows in their backs as I swung my sword into the face of the surprised swordsman. I reined Scout in and turned. Behind me I could see the effect of our charge and our ambush. There were just four men who had surrendered. The rest were fled or dead.

  Wulfstan reined in next to me. I saw that he had suffered a wound to his leg. "Wulfric, we need your needle."

  "It is nothing Alfraed. I had suffered worse sharpening my sword."

  "Nonetheless it will be tended to. I would not risk the wrath of Faren."

  I saw that the others who had been in the front rank were unharmed although two of the men at arms who had followed me were injured. I took off my helmet and rode back to where Edgar and my men at arms waited with the prisoners. There were just four of them. I glanced at them as I rode past them to the knights. Three were dead already. Brian had his sword at the last one who was not long for this world. He had a black shield.

  I waved Brian's sword away. This knight would hurt no one. "What is your name?"

  He tried to hold up his shield. He could not manage it. "I am the black knight and you must be Alfraed of Norton. We were warned to avoid you."

  He spoke in Norman. "Then you were not the leader."

  "No, Lord William thought we could avoid you if we came this way. He…" Those were his last words and he died.

  "Well we know one name at least."

  "Aye Edward, perhaps we can get more from the prisoners."

  The four of them were poorly prepared for war. They each had a shield and an axe. Two of them had metal helmets but the other two had leather caps. All had a wound of some description.

  "Where did you come from?"

  The four of them stared insolently at me. I tried them in Saxon and had the same response. "Anyone speak Scottish here?"

  One of my new men at arms stepped forward, "I am Thomas of Ulverston, my lord. I understand a couple of words."

  "Good man. Try them."

  He spoke to them and this time there was a brief flicker of reaction and then they retained their stone faces. "Sorry my lord."

  "Oh they understand all right. Tell them that if they do not speak I will have them executed." He nodded. "Say it slowly so that there is no mistake."

  He did so, enunciating each word. This time one of them spat at my feet. Wulfric went to hit him but I restrained him. "No Wulfric. These are brave men, misguided but brave. Bind them and bring them with us. Strip the bodies of anything useful and pile them in the middle of the clearing. Fetch brush and we will burn them. We have no time to bury them and I would not have the animals dig up their bones."

  There were just eight dead. The rest had fled. I knew that more were wounded and I guessed that some would die on their way north. We could do nothing for them.

  As we headed south, Wulfstan, who had a heavily wrapped leg said, "You have grown Alfraed. Your father would be proud. Where is the arrogant young knight who thought he knew it all?" He laughed. "I watched your men. They followed you as we followed your father. They may be paid warriors but they are your oathsworn in all but name."

  "Thank you, Wulfstan. Those words mean more to me than you can know. What concerns me now is the origin of these raiders. The knights were not Scottish but the men were. What were they after? Is there still a connection with Hartness? I fear this will be a long summer. It is barely spring and already they are raiding. Whoever this William is he must be close to the Scottish border."

  "We are victims of our own success. The Welsh cattle you brought from King Henry's Welsh wars will prove to be a lure for every rag tag warband who thinks we are an easy mark. If you want some advice, I would speak with Osric and Athelstan and warn them of the dangers. They will be the first to suffer an incursion."

  I nodded and rode in silence. We passed the track leading to Hartness. I had not managed to see what was in the harbour of Hartness. I would leave that for another day but the proximity of the manor without a lord was worrying. I was safe behind Stockton's stone walls but Norton had wooden walls only. Edward must have been reading my mind. "My lord, you are sending William to work on the church, why not have him build a tower next to the church. It could be a refuge. With a beacon on the top they could signal Stockton and we can be there swiftly. It need not be a large tower."

  "That is a good idea. We need not his skills to finish the curtain wall."

  Wulfric was behind me and he murmured, "Aye, my lord but we need a gaol. If we are to have sessions we need somewhere to put those who are convicted."

  "You are right Wulfric. We will give thought to that when we reach our home."

  As we rode through the gates I knew what we would do with these prisoners. "Wulfric get four ropes and string these up from the gates. Their bodies can act as a warning to all who would steal from us."

  As soon as the four ropes were thrown over the gate leading to the town the men began to struggle. They knew what was coming. They shouted at me. I wondered if they were telling me what I needed to know. "Thomas what are they saying?"

  He looked down, "My lord, they are cursing you." My
men crossed themselves.

  The eight men at arms holding the ropes all pulled at once and the four Scots' wriggling, writhing bodies were jerked up into the air above the gate. Their necks did not break but they were slowly strangled until the last leg stopped twitching and my men tied off the ropes.

  Wulfric shook his head, "Next time, my lord, we cut out their tongues first!"

  The next morning I had to pass beneath their bodies. I noticed the smell. They had fouled themselves as they had died. I would have to have the bodies cut down. It would not do to upset Faren and Adela. I went to Alf and negotiated two sets of mail in return for the armour and weapons we had collected. It suited Alf for he would pay no taxes and yet he would profit.

  We began work the next day on the gaol. We had enough space in the bailey. We attached it to the keep on the village side. It would afford more protection from an attack. We made the entrance on the top so that it could not be used by an attacker It was six paces square. We would be able to accommodate ten men at a time. We deduced that it would be unlikely that we would need room for more. William went each day to Norton to begin work on a tower which could be attached to the church. Privately I thought that it would make a good bell tower. I would ask Alf if he could cast one in bronze for us. It would not need to be large but it could be used to summon us if danger threatened. Norton was where my father rested and it needed protection.

  As spring made the river come alive and Olaf and the other ships began to ply the river more I saw that trade was increasing and I detected signs of prosperity. More houses were being built and William and his sons began to be asked to make some of the houses in stone; at least the lower levels. I felt quite proud of the progress we had made. It meant that people felt safer. The moneyer, Leofric was now producing not only copper coins but also silver ones. They each bore the face of King Henry. I had used the treasure we had collected from the dead raiders and I was able to pay my men a little extra. They had shown their loyalty and this was the best way to reward them and encourage them at the same time.

  When the gaol and the curtain wall were finished, I held a feast. We were close enough to Easter and I was keen to reward all. I sent my archers out to hunt in the woods around the Hart Burn and along the river. I had crude tables constructed and we laid them outside my walls in the middle of the settlement which was burgeoning. Faren had just given birth to Wulfstan's daughter, Judith and so Adela had to take on much of the organisation. She did a fine job and the feast went off without a hitch. I walked down the river with Wulfstan and Edward. We had all had plenty to drink.

  "Adela did a good job there, my lord. It went off without a hitch. Your people are fed and replete. This has been good for Stockton."

  "Perhaps I should have done something for Norton too."

  Wulfstan laughed, "Poor Adela had enough to do organising one such feast. Wait until the Midsummer Festival and Faren will be able to help."

  "Unless she is with child again!"

  Wulfstan laughed, "And she may well be! It has taken me many years to sire a family. Do not blame me if I take advantage of a fecund wife."

  I laughed too. My two household knights were easy company.

  Wulfstan stopped at the bend in the river. On the other bank we saw a pair of herons. They were engaging in the mating ritual. Wulfstan belched. "Better out than in! And what of you and Adela?" I flashed him a look of irritation. Edward was there. He laughed, "Edward knows of the situation, all of your men do. What have you decided? Will you be fair to the girl or no?"

  My shoulders slumped in resignation. "I spoke with Father Peter and I know what I ought to do. The problem is broaching it."

  My two friends looked at each other and Wulfstan shook his head. "Do it the way you did the other day against those raiders. Tackle it head on. Just tell her what is in your heart. You will not be disappointed."

  The two birds disappeared into the bushes which lined the river. "Should I do it now?"

  "No, my young friend. You have had a drink and your words might be misconstrued. Choose a quiet time and make sure you are alone."

  That night, as I lay in bed I knew it would have to be the next day. I had the first of my Easter sessions coming up and I would need a mind cleared of clutter by then. The next morning I approached her. "Adela would you care to go riding today? It is clement weather and you have not ridden this year. I would talk with you and thank you for your efforts yesterday."

  Her enthusiasm almost knocked me over. I had one of the gentler palfreys saddled and I rode Scout. I rode towards the Hart Burn. There were wild parts near there where I knew we would not bump into anyone. I wanted just to be alone with Adela. If I had to say something then I wanted no one there to mock me or see my foolish efforts. It was almost as though she knew what I was going to say for she listened intently to what I said about my land and showed a remarkable insight into the manor. I almost forgot what I was going to say. We found ourselves at the shallow valley a half a mile from Old Tom's house. We dismounted and let the horses graze. We watched a kestrel as it hovered before plunging down on a water vole.

  "This is a good place, my lord."

  "The whole manor is and I know that you are a large part of that Adela. I wanted you to know that." She said nothing but looked intently at me. She was not making it easy and there was a silence which had to be filled. "Before I went away to Normandy I felt that there was something stirring between us."

  "For my part there still is my lord. Have I displeased you?"

  "No! Of course not. Events happened in Normandy which, well let us just say they complicated matters."

  "Not for me. You have my heart and I shall give it to no one else."

  I was out of my depth. "What would you have?"

  "You."

  "Even though I cannot promise that you will have my heart?"

  "You will have mine and that is good enough for me. When we have children then I will have their hearts and they are part of you. I will be content but one day I will have your heart. I know that."

  I shook my head. "You are a remarkable girl. Think on this until this time next year. If you feel the same way then we shall be wed. Does that please you?"

  Her answer was to throw her arms around me and to kiss me. "Aye my lord. Today you have made me a happy woman."

  I was surprised by the warmth with which the news was greeted by all in my castle. It seemed I was the only one who had not seen what was before my eyes. It certainly made my life easier for I could not concentrate on being Lord of the Manor. I held my first sessions at Easter and I became the knight my father had wanted me to be. Life was good.

  Chapter 10

  War came before we could reap the benefits of Spring. The men of the north, Gospatric's men, came a month after Easter. This was not a handful of hopeful raiders. This was a large warband who came to ravage the land in King Henry's absence. Gospatric had lands which straddled both England and Scotland. King David and King Henry had both given him lands and manors to make him loyal. The winter barley had been a poor crop and the harsh winter, further north, had killed many animals. Gospatric took himself off for a pilgrimage to Rome. His lieutenants came raiding. I knew, for Wulfstan told me, that the absence of Gospatric was deliberate. He could avoid any blame. He could punish his men if things went awry but if they were successful then he would have more lands and more animals. He would be richer. Of course we only discovered this much later. What we did know was that refugees fled from the north, first to Norton and thence to Stockton. They spoke of fierce warriors who slaughtered men, took the women and enslaved families. They gathered the animals and drove them north. It was not one army but like the fingers of two hands it was columns of warriors heading south and avoiding such places as Durham, Bamburgh, Alnwick and Raby. Too many knights were serving in Normandy or had taken the cross. There were not enough men to oppose them.

  I sent riders to Sir Richard and Sir Mark asking for their men. I warned Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey of the danger
s and told them to get their people within their walls. With seven or eight columns heading south I could not afford to have those two river crossings abandoned. We would have to face whatever came our way with less than a hundred men. We had no idea how many were coming. We just knew that the columns of warriors were sweeping all before them.

  While I awaited the arrival of my two knights I rode with Edward to Norton. Osric and Athelstan had begun their preparations. The closest farmers had been prepared while those who were isolated had been urged to enter the walls for protection. Some chose to take their chances. I knew that we had to have as many within the walls to provide warriors on the walls.

  "We are prepared, Baron. Tom the Fletcher has provided many arrows. The ditch is deeper and William's gate, while not finished is stronger than the wooden one." He pointed to the half finished tower. It stood the height of a man. "And we have that refuge too. Father Peter will shelter the women and children in the church. Your father will protect them there."

  "That is good Athelstan."

  "And what will you do, Baron? Are you going to let them waste their strength on your walls?"

  "No Osric. I have enough horses to mount our men and meet them far from the Tees. I want none of my people hurt by these savages. I was charged with protecting the Tees. I will do so." I hesitated, "There is room enough behind Stockton's walls."

  Osric laughed, "While your father's body lies in the church we are still his oathsworn and we die to protect it. Fear not. We will hold."